title: Very late antigen-1 mediates corneal lymphangiogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the specific role of very late antigen-1 (VLA-1; also known as integrin α1β1) in corneal inflammatory lymphangiogenesis in vivo and lymphatic endothelial cell functions in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  A standard suture-induced corneal inflammatory lymphangiogenesis model was used in normal adult BALB/c mice to test the effect of systemic administration of VLA-1-neutralizing antibody on lymphatic formation and macrophage infiltration in vivo. Additionally, a human lymphatic endothelial cell culture system was used to examine the effect of VLA-1 gene depletion on lymphatic endothelial cell functions in vitro using small interfering RNAs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These data demonstrated, for the first time, that VLA-1 blockade significantly suppressed corneal lymphangiogenesis and macrophage infiltration during inflammation. Moreover, VLA-1 gene depletion led to a marked inhibition of lymphatic endothelial cell processes of adhesion, proliferation, and capillary tube formation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These novel findings together indicate that VLA-1 is critically involved in the processes of lymphangiogenesis. Further investigation on this factor may provide novel therapies for corneal inflammation, transplant rejection, and other lymphatic-related disorders in the body.
authors.affiliation: Center for Eye Disease and Development, Program in Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Sammy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grimaldo
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ecoiffier
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004729:Endothelium, Lymphatic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D039222:Integrin alpha1beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000276:immunology*; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D039222:Integrin alpha1beta1; D012313:RNA